Switch-point-actuating mechanism



J. KLEWANICH.

SWITCH POINT ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29,1919.

1,362,629. Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KLEWANIC I- L OF ROYALTON, ILLINOIS.

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7 Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed September 29, 1919. Serial No. 327,021.

ing 7 is a specification.

My invention relates to'improvements in swltch' polnt 'actuatlng mechanism and is more particularly intended for use in mines,

such as coal mines, and while it is especially designed to be actuated by anengaging part carried by an engine, or car, it can also be actuated by a person.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for-holding the switch points in either of their operative thrown positions.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts described in the following specification, and finally pointed out inthe claim hereto appended:

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1, is a top plan view of a stretch of railway track equipped with switch point actuating mechanism in accordance with my present invention.

Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view on line 8-3, of Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference character A indicates the main line of a railway and B the branch line. or side track leading therefrom.

1 indicates the usual switch points associated with the main and branch line rails.

taken Theswitch-points 1 are pivoted, as at 2,

points 1, in unison, comprises a suitable connection 7 pivotally connected atone end, as at 8, to one end of the cross-bar 4, and, at

its opposite end, as at 9, to the upper, or

free end of an arm 10 fixed to one end of a suitable operating shaft 11, which shaft runs parallel to the main line rails, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 11 is j ournaled' in suitable bearings 12 and 13, a suitable distance from one of the main line rails.

. A pairsof suitable switch-point actuators 14 and 15 are each pivotally connected at 'one end-,as at 16, to one of the supporting ties 17 asuitable distance'in advance of the switch-points 1. When the actuators are in their open position, they lie substantially parallel with the main line rails and when intheir closed position, they lie at a suitable angle to the main line rails, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Actuator 14 is shown as open in Fig. 1, while actuator 15 is shown as closed. The actuators 14 and 15 are preferably movably mounted upon metallic plate members 16 carried bythe upper faces of or L-shaped bar 19 is provided witha suitable depending arm 20, positioned substantially midway the endsof the cross-bar 19. p

A suitable connecting-bar 21 is pivotally united at one end, as at 22, to the lower end of arm 20 and pivotally united at its opposite end, as at 23, to the free end'of the short end 24 of the switch lever 25, which switch lever is fixed to one end of the horizontal operating shaft 11, as clearly shown no in Fig. 2.

The mechanism for normally locking the switch points in their operative thrown positions, will now be described.

A suitable swinging plate 26 having a right angular head 27 is pivotally united as at 28, to one end of a suitable supporting arm 29. The head 27 is provided with an opening 30 to receive the free end of a suitable rod 31, which rod is pivotally connected, as at 32, to the free end of an arm 33' preferably formed integral with the switch lever 25 and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The rod 31 is provided with a stop collar 34 near the'pivoted end thereof, and a suitable coiled spring 35, encircling the rod, is interposed between the col-, lar 34 and the head 27 of the swingable plate 26, as shown in Fig. 2. The expansive action of the spring 35 will, as is manifest, exert its force against the collar 34 and positively-hold the switch lever 25 in either of its thrown positions.

The engine or car which is to operate the switch is provided on either side with a suitable arm 36. 1

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the main line A is open, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and it is desired to actuate the switch-points 1 so that? the car or train running in direction of arrow 37 will go upon the sidetrack B, the arm 36 on the right hand side of the engine, or first car is regulated so that it will engage the vertical wall of the angle iron actuator 15 and in its movement crowd the same into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1., The movement of actuator 15 causes the actuator 14:- to move in unison therewith from its full line position shown to the in clined position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movement iof the actuators through the connection 21' causes the switch lever 25 to move from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 25 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, which movement of the switch lever 25 turns the operating shaft 11 a part of a revolution as'is manifest. This partial rotary movement of the shaft 11 will cause arm 10 to move to the left from the full line position shown in Fig. 3. The movement of arm 10 will impart movement to the connection 7 and cross-bar 4, which, in turn, moves the switch-points 1 in unison from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be here observed that the rod 31 and spring 35 will assume the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 when the main line is open and the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 when the main line is closed and the side track B is open. From the fact that the rod 31 and spring 35 assume an inclined position, in either instance, it is apparent that the force of the. spring 35 positively holds the switch-points in their thrown'positions, as the end of the rod 31 which is connected to arm 33 of the switch lever 25 is below dead center as between the center of shaft 11 and the pivotal connection 28 of the swingable plate 26 when the actuators are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and above dead center as between the center of shaft 11 and the pivotal connection 28 of the swingable plate 26 when the actuators are in the positions shown in dotted lines in F 1, thereby insuring safety by positively holding the switch-points in their thrown position through the force of action of the coiled spring 35, interposed between the head '27 of the swingable plate 26 and the head 341'of rod 31. The action of'the spring, it'will be observed, positively holds the switch lever 25 in either of its thrown positions, thus positively holding the switch points in their thrown positions. Were it not for the coiled spring 35, it is evident that therewould be no force of action against the switch lever 25 to positively hold it in either of its thrown positions.

When the side track B is open and it is desired to go down the main line track A,

the depending arm 36 on the left hand side. of an engineer car is brought into engage ment with the actuator. 14 which arm ,36

in its movement will crowd the actuator 14' and switchpoints 1 from the positions. shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 1, to the posi-- From the foregoing description, it will.

be seen that I have constructed a switch de vice which is simple in construction and operation and consisting of a minimum number of parts.

The many advantages of a device-of the class described, for use especially in mines,

and particularly coal mines, andtheir switching guards, will, readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. 3

I do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the switch I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the form, shape and particular arrangement of parts with? out departing from the spirit of my invention, I hence reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications'as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim when fairly construed.

What I claim is:

In combination with a main and branch line of a railway track, pivoted switchpoints cooperating therewith, a cross-bar uniting said switch-points so they will move in unison, an operating shaft, an upright arm fixed to one end of said shaft, a connection between the upper endof said'upright arm and one end of the cross-bar, a pair of L-shaped actuators pivoted at their forward ends in advance of the switchpoints, one of said actuators assuming a position parallel with the main line rails while the other assumes a position at an angle thereto, a cross-bar uniting said actuators so they will move in unison, an arm depending from said cross-bar, a switch lever fixed to the end of the operating shaft adjacent the actuators having a relative short extension below the operating shaft a connection unitingithe depending arm of the cross-bar with the short extension of the switch lever, an arm fixed to the switch lever at a rightangle to the longitudinal axis thereof, a supporting member, an angle member pivotally connected to said supporting member, a rod pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the arm fixed to the switch lever and its opposite end passing through an opening in one arm of the angle member, a collar on said arm and a coiled spring encircling said rod and interposed between said collar and the arm of the angle member for positively holding the switch lever in either of its thrown positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

JOHN KLEWANICH. 

